in recent memory, and faces stiff competition from the likes of the Porsche 918 Spyder and

LaFerrari. First, the headlines. The P1 is a technical

tour de force and is powered by a 3.8-litre twin turbo charged V8 engine in conjunction

with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 903bhp.

That means the P1 is able to accelerate to 62mph in under three seconds and

onto a top speed of 217mph. It can also be a very green car, managing an

official 34mpg on a combined cycle and emitting 194g/km of CO2. The P1 is built around a carbonfibre

tub known as the Mono Cage. This tub weighs 90 kilos and includes space

for all of the P1's electrical systems, as well as its battery.

McLaren has been obsessed with saving weight in the P1, so much so that the windscreen

has been planed down to become just 3.2mm thick, 1mm thinner than that

used on the 12C and 3.5 kilos lighter. The diet continues inside, where each seat weighs

just 10.5 kilos. It's joined by a carbonfibre trim, which does without its top layer of

resin. McLaren says this gives a more natural look

and crucially saves another 1.5 kilos.

Don't think of the P1 as only being for the track, however.

McLaren tells us it's engineered the hypercar to ride as

well around town as it does on the circuit. Its

suspension system is again based on the 12C, but uses special hydraulic adjustment to control

ride height and vertical stiffness. In some cases, the space-age technology showcased

on the P1 really is from space. A silicone carbide coating, used to get the carbon ceramic

brakes their stopping power generating up to 2g in places

was first used on the Ariane space rocket.

At £866,000 each, the P1 is likely to be a rare and exclusive machine. Just 375 models

will be produced in total, all of which have already sold out.